Microsoft has unveiled ad-supported versions of its Office desktop applications, offering Windows users a unique opportunity to edit documents without the need for a subscription. While the company has long provided free access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 applications via the web, details surrounding these new desktop offerings have remained sparse.
Upon installation, users will notice a vertical panel on the right side of the application window, which will feature advertisements as they work on their documents. Additionally, the apps will include prompts suggesting, “To remove ads, subscribe to Microsoft 365,” accompanied by a “See benefits” link designed to encourage users to consider a subscription.
To access these new ad-supported applications, users must first download and install Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365). After launching the application, they can select “Skip for now” on the sign-in screen. This action leads to a welcome message for free access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, where users will need to click “Continue for free” and then “Save to OneDrive” on the subsequent screen.
As highlighted by tech news outlet Beebom, users will require a Microsoft 365 subscription to save documents edited with these ad-supported applications directly to their local drives. The ad-supported versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint come with limited functionality and additional restrictions, as outlined in the table below.
| Word | Excel | PowerPoint |
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Interestingly, reports from BleepingComputer indicate that they could not replicate the findings regarding these new applications, suggesting that this may be part of a regional test. A Microsoft spokesperson was unavailable for immediate comment on the matter.
Ads in the Start Menu, Windows Explorer, and more
This initiative is not Microsoft’s first foray into advertising within its products. The company has previously displayed ads in the “Recommended” section of the Windows 11 Start menu and promoted its own products in the sign-out flyout menu. This trend has been ongoing, with ads appearing in Windows File Explorer and even in the Windows 10 Start Menu to promote Microsoft Edge.
In fact, five years ago, the Wordpad application in Windows 10 featured ads encouraging users to explore Microsoft’s free Office web apps. This pattern of integrating advertisements into its software ecosystem reflects Microsoft’s ongoing strategy to monetize its offerings while providing users with alternative access options.
